Anyone Have Any Experience with Senior Friendly Tubs? (Safe Step, Premiere Bath,etc.)

[romantico]

I'm thinking about buying my Mom a "Senior Friendly" bathtub/shower as a belated Birthday gift/Mother's Day gift. I've seen the Safe Step and the Premiere Baths and was just curious if anyone here has one or if their parents or loved ones have one. In the commercials they always look rater large and her bathroom is not very big so I would have to see if they can customize it or make them a little smaller than the ones shown on TV. I'm also hoping that they are not too expensive. I hear they can start around $1,800 on up. If anyone has any information on them please feel free to share. Thanks!

[catnhatnh]

1. One thing I learned...

is that many of them will require either a larger or high-flow water heater since they hold much more water....and that these are costly also.

[The empressof all]

2. I don't know about them

Even with a power assist drain the bather needs to sit in the bath while the water drains in order to open the door. Seems to me to be a way to freeze your butt off. I use a shower chair and have a great hand held shower attachment that switches to hand or overhead or both. I've even caught my SO who has no mobility issues using it!

[romantico]

3. I

I am concerned because my Mom fell down the stairs last summer. Thank God she was lucky and nothing was broken,but her balance was off and her Doctor had her go to rehab for a couple weeks so she could get her strength back. Since then when at home she uses a walker,just because she feels safer with it. She has a stand up shower but it is very cramped.I could not fit a chair or stool in their for her to sit on in fear she would trip or fall while in the shower.I wish her bathroom was larger.

I thought a senior friendly tub would be the answer.Looks like I am going to need to do more research on this than I had thought. Thanks for the replies!

[The empressof all]

4. One more quick suggestion

They do make shower benches that are quite small that flip down from the wall of the shower. You may be able to have someone install something like that along with grab bars for her. The shower is scary for someone who has balance issues. It's sweet that you are so thoughtful of this...

Here's some ideas
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=flip+down+shower+bench

[romantico]

5. Thanks

That is something I will definitely look into. Mom is gonna be 78 and she is very independent. Still works(part time) and insists on doing for herself.So, the very fact that her & I agree that a new shower is a must is saying a lot. She does NOT want to fall again.She was lucky and it was a long hard fall.Her just getting a small scratch on her leg and hand is a miracle.So, we are taking precautions. Thanks again for the suggestion!

[whistler162]

6. My mom

had the bathtub replaced by a walk in shower, lots of grab bars, and a good, i.e. with a back, shower chair(from the thrift store). Works great for the purpose.